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Hulburg and Trade query

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Iluvrien
Jan 31, 2009 9:23:17 I am about half way through Swordmage, but have had something poking away at the back of my brain for a while. Mostly a bit of information about Hulburg and open aspect trading connections.

The book says that 60 years ago (making it about 1419) the Harmach moved the smelting operations in Hulburg out of the city proper to clean up the air. All well and good. Now the question is related to that, the so-called "spires" (pg 46-57 in my copy) and the "galena" mountains.

Galena is lead ore, so there is a possibility that this might be what was being smelted. Possible but, if memory serves, molten lead fumes aren't just smelly but toxic, the Harmach would have far more serious problems than a nasty pong. Of course "Galena" could just be a proper noun in this case and not refer to the ore but that seems a bit of a coincidence to me.

The spires however, are mentioned to be formed of malachite (and non-magical). This is a copper ore that our ancestors have been smelting for the best part of 3000 years... and yet no mention of people mining this extraordinary (and useful) natural resource.

So my question is this, considering the above, is there any more information about Hulburg and its trading concerns? I can't find anything more in the FRCG or FRPG and I had an idea for either a short story or a future campaign based around the aerial mining of the spires.
#2
lord_karsus
Feb 02, 2009 10:05:02 -Since this was Rich Baker's book, you should ask Rich Baker himself for clarification.
#3
Iluvrien
Feb 02, 2009 10:08:08
-Since this was Rich Baker's book, you should ask Rich Baker himself for clarification.

I planned to, eventually, I just wondered if information was available to the wider community that I hadn't seen before I went bothering Rich.

...I finished Swordmage in the meantime though ;).
#4
lord_karsus
Feb 02, 2009 10:09:48 -Gotcha. Well, you know how it is: We're all left in the dark together, so...
#5
lord_karsus
Feb 06, 2009 12:53:52 -Rich provided an answer:

To the best of my knowledge, the name "Galena Mountains" is a coincidence with the common lead-bearing ore. I would guess that whoever named those mountains back in the day (maybe Ed, maybe some other designer) might have borrowed the real-word term without any intention of saying those mountains were rich in lead. The Spires are changeland, meaning that they were never part of the original geology of the Winterspear Vale. I imagine that it's not really a big enough deposit of copper to justify tearing up that hillside, especially with much larger mineral deposits in the mountains nearby.

Hulburg's economy is really all about exporting timber (from the forested foothills and lower slopes of the mountains) and refined metal (gold, iron, probably some lead and copper too). Mulmaster, Sembia, the Vast, and maybe Impiltur, Yurmish, or Akanul are the biggest markets. The town isn't really self-sufficient, and barely grows enough food to get by. In the river valley there is some decent farmland, but most of Hulburg's local food production is livestock. It's not really the temperature that's a problem, it's the shortage of arable land--the Highfells and moors are okay for grazing, but not for planting.
#6
markustay63
Feb 06, 2009 13:34:20 The Galena Mountains are most notable for their production of Bloodstone, not Lead - I think the name may just be one Ed used, and really means very little.

Refer to The Bloodstone Lands for information on ther Galenas.
#7
lord_karsus
Feb 06, 2009 14:27:20 -Bloodstone is written about somewhere...In the Volo's Guides, maybe? The FRCS?I recall coming across something when doing research for the Drow locales in the area.
#8
markustay63
Feb 06, 2009 16:05:03 Yes, Bloodstone appears in afew places in various sources, but the Mountain Range itself - where it originates - it primarily covered in The Bloodstone Lands.

Its interesting to note that the entire range contains Bloodstone - and small amounts are also mined in Impiltur - but for the most part, it seems only Vassa and Damara made a big deal about mining it.

Considering how sections of those mountains lie in 'unclaimed' territory, I find it most pecular.

Then again, its also canon that the Earthfast Dwarves are fighting a never-ending (and losing) war with the massive number of orcs within the Range, so that could be a good reason why you don't have a 'goldrush' situation happening there.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Iluvrien Jan 31, 2009 9:23:17	I am about half way through Swordmage, but have had something poking away at the back of my brain for a while. Mostly a bit of information about Hulburg and open aspect trading connections. The book says that 60 years ago (making it about 1419) the Harmach moved the smelting operations in Hulburg out of the city proper to clean up the air. All well and good. Now the question is related to that, the so-called "spires" (pg 46-57 in my copy) and the "galena" mountains. Galena is lead ore, so there is a possibility that this might be what was being smelted. Possible but, if memory serves, molten lead fumes aren't just smelly but toxic, the Harmach would have far more serious problems than a nasty pong. Of course "Galena" could just be a proper noun in this case and not refer to the ore but that seems a bit of a coincidence to me. The spires however, are mentioned to be formed of malachite (and non-magical). This is a copper ore that our ancestors have been smelting for the best part of 3000 years... and yet no mention of people mining this extraordinary (and useful) natural resource. So my question is this, considering the above, is there any more information about Hulburg and its trading concerns? I can't find anything more in the FRCG or FRPG and I had an idea for either a short story or a future campaign based around the aerial mining of the spires.
#2 lord_karsus Feb 02, 2009 10:05:02	-Since this was Rich Baker's book, you should ask Rich Baker himself for clarification.
#3 Iluvrien Feb 02, 2009 10:08:08	-Since this was Rich Baker's book, you should ask Rich Baker himself for clarification. I planned to, eventually, I just wondered if information was available to the wider community that I hadn't seen before I went bothering Rich. ...I finished Swordmage in the meantime though ;).
#4 lord_karsus Feb 02, 2009 10:09:48	-Gotcha. Well, you know how it is: We're all left in the dark together, so...
#5 lord_karsus Feb 06, 2009 12:53:52	-Rich provided an answer: To the best of my knowledge, the name "Galena Mountains" is a coincidence with the common lead-bearing ore. I would guess that whoever named those mountains back in the day (maybe Ed, maybe some other designer) might have borrowed the real-word term without any intention of saying those mountains were rich in lead. The Spires are changeland, meaning that they were never part of the original geology of the Winterspear Vale. I imagine that it's not really a big enough deposit of copper to justify tearing up that hillside, especially with much larger mineral deposits in the mountains nearby. Hulburg's economy is really all about exporting timber (from the forested foothills and lower slopes of the mountains) and refined metal (gold, iron, probably some lead and copper too). Mulmaster, Sembia, the Vast, and maybe Impiltur, Yurmish, or Akanul are the biggest markets. The town isn't really self-sufficient, and barely grows enough food to get by. In the river valley there is some decent farmland, but most of Hulburg's local food production is livestock. It's not really the temperature that's a problem, it's the shortage of arable land--the Highfells and moors are okay for grazing, but not for planting.
#6 markustay63 Feb 06, 2009 13:34:20	The Galena Mountains are most notable for their production of Bloodstone, not Lead - I think the name may just be one Ed used, and really means very little. Refer to The Bloodstone Lands for information on ther Galenas.
#7 lord_karsus Feb 06, 2009 14:27:20	-Bloodstone is written about somewhere...In the Volo's Guides, maybe? The FRCS?I recall coming across something when doing research for the Drow locales in the area.
#8 markustay63 Feb 06, 2009 16:05:03	Yes, Bloodstone appears in afew places in various sources, but the Mountain Range itself - where it originates - it primarily covered in The Bloodstone Lands. Its interesting to note that the entire range contains Bloodstone - and small amounts are also mined in Impiltur - but for the most part, it seems only Vassa and Damara made a big deal about mining it. Considering how sections of those mountains lie in 'unclaimed' territory, I find it most pecular. Then again, its also canon that the Earthfast Dwarves are fighting a never-ending (and losing) war with the massive number of orcs within the Range, so that could be a good reason why you don't have a 'goldrush' situation happening there.